Historic Marker #19, Vince Cross at Hut Point, Ross Island
View from Vince Cross
30 December 2009
28 December 2009
And the wind blew at Black Island
12 – 16 Nov 09
I was scheduled to leave for Black Island (BI) the morning after happy camp and I almost did not get out to there on the 12th, the winds were over 40 knots which is the limit for the larger 212 Helos. I was on hold all day and then got a call about 4:40 pm that the winds had dropped and to get down to helo ops before they came back up. Now to fly around McMurdo is no easy thing and it takes a bit of preparation, you have to be in full ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) gear which is bunny boats, wind pants and Big Red not something you are usually hanging around in if you are in doors. So I rush to dress, call a shuttle, grab my bag and get down to helo and within 10 minutes of getting there I am briefed, weighed and loaded on my first helicopter flight to BI. The trip normally takes about 15 minutes but took 25 minutes on that first trip because the winds stayed just below the limit the whole way across to BI. The helo landed without shutting down, let me off and was gone back to McMurdo within minutes; I think they were afraid that they would not be able to take off if the winds increased.
Tony, the camp manger, and Shawn, my Raytheon co-worker, met the helo and rushed me inside and that was the last time I left the building for 4 days. We were in condition 1 or 2 with winds averaging at 60 mph and gust up to 89 mph, snow that blew parallel to the ground and temperatures from 24 to11 deg. F.
Out in the radome it was like being inside a big kettle drum with nature playing a continuous roll, you could feel the vibration in the equipment room floor next door. Absolutely astounding weather!
I was scheduled to leave for Black Island (BI) the morning after happy camp and I almost did not get out to there on the 12th, the winds were over 40 knots which is the limit for the larger 212 Helos. I was on hold all day and then got a call about 4:40 pm that the winds had dropped and to get down to helo ops before they came back up. Now to fly around McMurdo is no easy thing and it takes a bit of preparation, you have to be in full ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) gear which is bunny boats, wind pants and Big Red not something you are usually hanging around in if you are in doors. So I rush to dress, call a shuttle, grab my bag and get down to helo and within 10 minutes of getting there I am briefed, weighed and loaded on my first helicopter flight to BI. The trip normally takes about 15 minutes but took 25 minutes on that first trip because the winds stayed just below the limit the whole way across to BI. The helo landed without shutting down, let me off and was gone back to McMurdo within minutes; I think they were afraid that they would not be able to take off if the winds increased.
Tony, the camp manger, and Shawn, my Raytheon co-worker, met the helo and rushed me inside and that was the last time I left the building for 4 days. We were in condition 1 or 2 with winds averaging at 60 mph and gust up to 89 mph, snow that blew parallel to the ground and temperatures from 24 to11 deg. F.
Out in the radome it was like being inside a big kettle drum with nature playing a continuous roll, you could feel the vibration in the equipment room floor next door. Absolutely astounding weather!
Condition III: Winds up to 48 knots, wind chill down to -75 degrees F, and visibility over 1/4th mile. Unrestricted travel and activity are allowed.
Condition II: Winds 48 to 55 knots, wind chill -75 to -100 degrees F, or visibility 100 feet to 1/4th mile. Restricted pedestrian traffic only between buildings is allowed. Vehicular travel is allowed in radio equipped, enclosed vehicles only, and check out is required.
Condition I: Winds over 55 knots, wind chill lower than -100 degrees F, or visibility less than 100 feet. Severe weather is in progress. All personnel must remain in buildings or the nearest shelter.
23 December 2009
What you have all been waiting for - pictures
These are pictures from my arrival at McMurdo.
9 Nov 09
I think it was a C117 that I flew from Christchurch NZ to McMurdo. 5.5 hrs in a jump seat on the side of the plane.
My plane arriving.
10 Nov 09
These next pictures are from Happy Camp "Survival school". About 20 hours of camping in the snow and another 10 of classes. It started as a beautiful day around 14 deg F and a light wind.
Prepping to build camp.
The supplies to build camp are at least partially what is in the survival bags. There are survival bags are on all flights and in all the vehicles.
We learned how to set up the tents with our gloves on, build a quinsy with our bags (that is the big mound of snow) you dig the bags out and you have a shelter. Plus set up a kitchen to feed ourselves hot food and drinks.
Building camp
Our ice block quarry.
The wind wall that I helped build. Isn't it great?
Hope you all enjoyed the pictures!
So we had a wonderful day to set up but about 6:00 pm the weather started to change, by 8 pm it was cold and the wind was blowing, absolutely miserable. It got down to around 5 deg F and a 15 mph wind. I ended up with very minor frostbite on two of my fingers.
I stayed the night in one of the scot tents; those are the large yellow ones. It never got warm in there, I had on a bunch of clothes and stayed burrowed into my sleeping bag all night. I was never really comfortable but, I did survive. So I hope I never need the skills they taught us at Happy camp but there is at least a chance I could survive with a survival kit for a little while.
9 Nov 09
I think it was a C117 that I flew from Christchurch NZ to McMurdo. 5.5 hrs in a jump seat on the side of the plane.
My plane arriving.
10 Nov 09
These next pictures are from Happy Camp "Survival school". About 20 hours of camping in the snow and another 10 of classes. It started as a beautiful day around 14 deg F and a light wind.
Prepping to build camp.
The supplies to build camp are at least partially what is in the survival bags. There are survival bags are on all flights and in all the vehicles.
Building camp
Our ice block quarry.
The wind wall that I helped build. Isn't it great?
Hope you all enjoyed the pictures!
So we had a wonderful day to set up but about 6:00 pm the weather started to change, by 8 pm it was cold and the wind was blowing, absolutely miserable. It got down to around 5 deg F and a 15 mph wind. I ended up with very minor frostbite on two of my fingers.
I stayed the night in one of the scot tents; those are the large yellow ones. It never got warm in there, I had on a bunch of clothes and stayed burrowed into my sleeping bag all night. I was never really comfortable but, I did survive. So I hope I never need the skills they taught us at Happy camp but there is at least a chance I could survive with a survival kit for a little while.
10 December 2009
So again I can not sleep
So I cannot sleep and because of that I have started a minor battle. B and J were up talking and I mentioned that I since I could not sleep I might write on my blog. B is very old school and is appalled at the idea of putting one's private life on view for others, plus he does not trust anyone who would remain anonymous. J on the other hand is a child of her generation and views a blog, the internet or a book as just another source of information. And all information whatever its format should be viewed with skepticism until one has verified the fact for one selves.
Which makes me think about how much I should revel about my self, what is important to me to keep private and who would care. Besides do my friends even care about these musings, I started this blog to share what the Antarctic is like, what is unique here and I wonder what can I share to explain this place that is amazingly beautiful but that I have barely seen. I spend most of my days in Antarctica in a little room with exceedingly noisy equipment crouched over a computer screen. It sounds like I have never left my job at home.
Speaking of the equipment some of it is going extremely well, we flowed data from Black Island to Denver. We had it working in just a few hours and were really excited, it could easily have taken days. Then disaster struck, ok not a disaster just my personal nemesis here – an antenna control system that keeps having problems. A piece of equipment I knew little about upon arriving but I am having to learn in much more depth than we ever planned, the worst is that it is GFE and not really our responsibility BUT it is our/my problem.
Ok, it is not always that bad, when I am outside of the 60 - 70 hr work weeks there is time to see some things, hike and hang out with friends. I have met some amazing people here, but more of that another day. I am actually getting tired and morning, the equipment and more testing awaits and all of you know how I love mornings.
Which makes me think about how much I should revel about my self, what is important to me to keep private and who would care. Besides do my friends even care about these musings, I started this blog to share what the Antarctic is like, what is unique here and I wonder what can I share to explain this place that is amazingly beautiful but that I have barely seen. I spend most of my days in Antarctica in a little room with exceedingly noisy equipment crouched over a computer screen. It sounds like I have never left my job at home.
Speaking of the equipment some of it is going extremely well, we flowed data from Black Island to Denver. We had it working in just a few hours and were really excited, it could easily have taken days. Then disaster struck, ok not a disaster just my personal nemesis here – an antenna control system that keeps having problems. A piece of equipment I knew little about upon arriving but I am having to learn in much more depth than we ever planned, the worst is that it is GFE and not really our responsibility BUT it is our/my problem.
Ok, it is not always that bad, when I am outside of the 60 - 70 hr work weeks there is time to see some things, hike and hang out with friends. I have met some amazing people here, but more of that another day. I am actually getting tired and morning, the equipment and more testing awaits and all of you know how I love mornings.
04 December 2009
Beginnings
So everyone continues to ask me about the blog - the one I have not begun.
Today Rob said he checked the blog and thought it sad there was nothing there.
Today Bret said just begin, that someday I will look back, remember and be glad I began.
So I am sitting here in my little cubical on Black Island in Antarctica, with the wind roaring outside at least 45 mph totally unable to sleep and I figure I may as well begin "The Blog".
It has got to get easier after I start.
To start on a high note seems a very good thing and so let me share some good news.
Wednesday Optus accepted our transmit patterns. (This was a cause for Major Celebration!!) We have been concerned because they are not the greatest, but under the circumstances they are good enough.
By this evening (Friday night in Antarctica) we have completed setting the EIRP and have the 20/20 carriers up. I am locked to the Optus carrier but not all is perfect in my little world as Optus is not locked to mine. Oh well something to do in the morning. The helicopter is not arriving till 5:50 pm and we should get it before then.
What was funny was how happy it made me to see our 20/20 carriers up on the spectrum analyzer (spec an), I almost clapped with joy. That seems a bit geeky but we have been working toward this for two years. It is a major milestone and I am ahead of schedule!
Today Rob said he checked the blog and thought it sad there was nothing there.
Today Bret said just begin, that someday I will look back, remember and be glad I began.
So I am sitting here in my little cubical on Black Island in Antarctica, with the wind roaring outside at least 45 mph totally unable to sleep and I figure I may as well begin "The Blog".
It has got to get easier after I start.
To start on a high note seems a very good thing and so let me share some good news.
Wednesday Optus accepted our transmit patterns. (This was a cause for Major Celebration!!) We have been concerned because they are not the greatest, but under the circumstances they are good enough.
By this evening (Friday night in Antarctica) we have completed setting the EIRP and have the 20/20 carriers up. I am locked to the Optus carrier but not all is perfect in my little world as Optus is not locked to mine. Oh well something to do in the morning. The helicopter is not arriving till 5:50 pm and we should get it before then.
What was funny was how happy it made me to see our 20/20 carriers up on the spectrum analyzer (spec an), I almost clapped with joy. That seems a bit geeky but we have been working toward this for two years. It is a major milestone and I am ahead of schedule!
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